It began as a modest idea

The idea, however modest, was born when a group of people, increasingly aware of the need to help solve the problems affecting the less fortunate, founded PAS — Programa de Assistência Social on 04/02/2001, a legally established, nonprofit organization.

From the start, it became clear how important it was to unite different sectors of civil society, businesses, and the three branches of government, to combine efforts, make the best use of resources — financial, material, and human — and avoid duplicating work.

On 11/07/2001, PAS received qualification from Brazil's Ministry of Justice as an OSCIP — Organização da Sociedade Civil de Interesse Público (Civil Society Organization of Public Interest), enabling it to sign agreements and partnerships with civil society organizations, businesses, and government at all three levels.

Under Brazil's Third Sector Law (No. 9.790 of 03/23/1999), PAS takes part in a new system for producing the common good, within the public sphere but outside the state. Under this law, we must move toward a new concept of development, one that doesn't rely on the usual tools — government funding and political goodwill — but is instead innovative, human, social, and sustainable: not decided by a few for everyone, but a TASK for EVERYONE. The protagonist of this new era is the ordinary citizen working in the private sector, in government, and in civil society organizations.

The organization also received Municipal Public Utility status on 11/24/2009 (Law No. 3.379) and State Public Utility status on 12/29/2010 (Law No. 14.337). It has been registered with CMAS — the Municipal Council for Social Assistance since 11/18/2004, and with CMDCA — the Municipal Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents since 06/16/2005.

Since its founding, PAS has taken part in the effort to restore citizenship, acting as a catalyst for resources to improve social conditions in our municipality. To that end, it launched a program aimed, in the medium and long term, at strengthening family and community bonds, achieving the economic independence of families, and consequently greater dignity for those we serve. The work is organized into interconnected projects, ensuring comprehensive support for the family, treated as the protagonist of the actions and services rather than as an object of intervention. All activities are ongoing, permanent, and planned, guaranteeing that every service, program, project, and social-assistance benefit remains free of charge.

In 2007, the former Casa da Criança “Sarah Mazzeo Alves” was a municipal service providing temporary, exceptional shelter by court order. The report describes schooling, social and educational activities, leisure, professional support and preparation for family reunification.

• 97

  shelter admissions recorded from 2005 through December 2007

• 23

  successful family reunifications reported at the time

Historical context: the article concerns the municipal service operating in 2007. The PAS-operated Casa de Acolhida began in 2011, so these historical figures are not part of the PCA project’s current statistics.

Credit: Guia São Roque. Original source cited by the publication: São Roque City Hall.

This story continues because of people who give

We don't receive membership fees from anyone. Every food basket, every medicine, and every night of shelter comes from donations by people like you.